Finding a bump under the tongue is common, often stemming from various causes. The floor of the mouth contains numerous small salivary glands and ducts, making it susceptible to blockages, minor injuries, and inflammation. While most sublingual bumps are benign and resolve without intervention, understanding these lesions helps determine when professional care is necessary. This information provides general context and is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis.
Identifying the Most Common Types of Sublingual Bumps
Most bumps on the floor of the mouth are linked to the salivary glands. Two frequent types are mucoceles and ranulas, which are fluid-filled sacs resulting from saliva leakage. A mucocele occurs when a minor salivary gland duct is damaged or blocked, causing mucus to pool in the surrounding tissue. When this lesion is larger and located on the floor of the mouth, it is called a ranula, which may appear translucent or bluish and is generally painless.
Sialolithiasis is another common cause, involving hardened calcium deposits, or salivary stones, forming within a salivary duct. Because the submandibular gland duct runs directly under the tongue, a stone can create a painful lump. This often causes swelling and discomfort that intensifies during meals.
Benign growths like fibromas form as a protective response to chronic irritation or repeated trauma, such as friction from biting. These scar-like tissues usually present as firm, smooth, dome-shaped masses matching the surrounding oral lining color.
Traumatic lesions and canker sores (aphthous ulcers) account for many temporary bumps. Canker sores are shallow, painful lesions with a white or yellowish center and a red border. They typically heal on their own within one to two weeks.
Immediate Relief and Home Care Strategies
For minor bumps resulting from trauma or canker sores, gentle oral hygiene and reduced irritation accelerate healing. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently around the affected area to prevent further injury. Alcohol-based mouthwashes should be avoided as they can irritate the delicate mucosal lining.
A warm salt water rinse is an effective home remedy for soothing inflammation and reducing infection risk. Dissolve a half to one teaspoon of salt into eight ounces of warm water, then gently swish it around the mouth for 15 to 30 seconds before spitting it out. This process can be repeated up to four times daily to promote a healing environment.
Dietary modifications manage discomfort while the tissue heals. Temporarily avoid spicy, highly acidic, or sharp, crunchy foods, as these can easily re-injure the bump. Opting for soft, bland foods, such as yogurt or mashed potatoes, minimizes friction and chemical irritation.
Over-the-counter pain management provides temporary relief for painful lesions. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, help reduce pain and local swelling. Topical analgesic gels containing ingredients such as benzocaine can also be applied directly to numb the area.
When Professional Medical Treatment Is Necessary
A medical professional, such as a dentist or oral surgeon, begins diagnosis with a visual and tactile examination. If a salivary stone is suspected, imaging studies like an ultrasound or sialography may be ordered to pinpoint the obstruction’s location and size. For lesions persisting beyond two weeks or lacking a clear cause, a biopsy is often performed to analyze a small tissue sample and determine the growth’s exact nature.
Treatment for a ranula often involves marsupialization, a minor surgical procedure. This technique creates an opening in the lesion and stitches the cyst lining edges to the surrounding mucosa, allowing permanent fluid drainage. While simple excision is possible, surgical removal of the entire sublingual gland is sometimes necessary to prevent recurrence.
Salivary stones that do not pass naturally may require intervention. Small stones near the duct opening can sometimes be removed using sialoendoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure employing tiny instruments. Larger, deeply embedded stones may necessitate more involved surgical removal.
Identifying Red Flags and Urgent Concerns
Certain characteristics of a sublingual bump are considered red flags that require prompt medical evaluation due to the potential for a serious underlying condition. Immediate attention is needed if the lump exhibits rapid growth, feels unusually firm or hard, or is irregularly shaped. The presence of persistent white patches (leukoplakia) or red patches (erythroplakia) on the floor of the mouth is particularly concerning, as these can be precancerous changes.
Functional changes should also be monitored closely. Symptoms such as unexplained numbness of the tongue, difficulty moving the tongue, persistent hoarseness, or difficulty swallowing that does not resolve should prompt an urgent consultation. These signs suggest the lesion may be interfering with nerves or muscular structures.
Accompanying systemic symptoms are also serious indicators. A prompt evaluation is necessary in these cases to rule out malignancy or other significant systemic disease.
- Persistent, unexplained weight loss.
- A non-tender, swollen lymph node in the neck.
- A sore that bleeds easily and does not show signs of healing after two weeks.